Master of Science in Healthcare Research Curriculum Overview
Below, you will find detailed information about the MS in Healthcare Research program, including curriculum structure, experiential learning opportunities, the academic calendar, and course descriptions. Use the links below to navigate quickly:
Distinctive Curriculum
Core coursework in the MS program focuses on the development of essential quantitative and analytic skills, foundational knowledge about how health care systems function (or malfunction) and how they can work better.
Year at a Glance
- The academic year is divided into four terms.
- The first half of the year is weighted towards core requirements with an emphasis on key topic areas across health policy and determinants of health.
- The second half of the year is weighted toward elective options in quality improvement, health services research, and health policy.
- Students need to complete a minimum of 12 units to graduate; core courses are required, and students can choose from several elective options to complete their degree.
- Students take classes full-time, with approximately 55 hours per week combined coursework and class-time.
Academic Calendar
To see the days and times that courses are offered by term for the MS in Healthcare Research program, view the 2025-2026 Course Calendar here.
Course Descriptions
Course descriptions by term are provided below. Elective courses are available in Fall-Spring terms.
To find the course descriptions for the courses listed below, please navigate here.
- PH 100 Inferential Methods in Epidemiology and Public Health
- PH 110 Public Health Foundations
- PH 128 Health Systems
- PH 139 Measuring Health
- PH 154 Determinants of Health Inequities (elective)
- PH 101 Inferential Methods in Epidemiology and Public Health II
- PH 111 Medical Care Epidemiology: Principles, Applications and Insights
- PH 117 Introduction to Quality Improvement in Health Systems
- PH 118 Community Health: Needs Assessment
- PH 140 Applying Health Statistics
Electives:
- PH 112 Medical Care & the Corporation
- PH 125 Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Public Health & Healthcare Studies
- PH 130 Practical Approaches for Today's Health Care Ethics Challenges
- Winterim Electives
- PH 120 Health Coproduction
- PH 122 Survey Methods
- PH 141 From Observational Data to Valid Inference: Regression and Other Approaches
Electives:
- PH 115 Leading Change in Value-Based Public Health and Healthcare
- PH 121 Decision and Cost Effectiveness Analysis
- PH 131 Patient Centered Health Communication
- PH 151 Environmental Health Sciences and Policy
- PH 123 Health Policy with ILE Project
Electives:
- PH 116 Topics in Maternal Health Equity with ILE Project
- PH 121 Decision and Cost Effectiveness Analysis with ILE Project
- PH 123 Health Policy with ILE Project
- PH 124 Advanced Topics in Quality Improvement with ILE Project
- PH 129 Advanced Topics in Quality Improvement
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roland.l.b.lamb@dartmouth.edu
Roland Lamb, MPH
Residential MPH/MS Program Director, The Dartmouth Instituteroland.l.b.lamb@dartmouth.edu